Ham press



C. BUTZ HAM PRESS Feb. l0, 1931.

Filecl March 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z I D D e INVENTOR Cla/Tanon .u

BY mq@ I ATTORNEY C. BUTZ HAM PRESS Feb. l0, 1931.

Filed March 6. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WITNESS BY i ATTORN EY Paese.; Fa. 10,1931

j UNITEDSTATES l y CLARENCE BU'rz', :orl MUSGATINE, Iowa f i HAM PRESS Applicationmea Maren a,

This invention relatesto compressors and more particularly to a press for use 1n cooking boned hams and the like which are heldl under compression in moldsduring the cook- 5 ing operation. Y

A primary object of the invention isto' provide a press of ,this character so con-f structedras to eliminate sharp corners and render the vcontainer easy .to Wash and quick to assemble and yet reta-in the parts sufficiently rigid for the purpose intended.

Another object is to so construct a press of this ,character as to avoid the use of dogs on the inside of the container and provide a'smooth surface both inside and out When the parts are disassembled for cleaning.VVV

In carrying out these objects,`th'e inven-4 tion is susceptible of a Wide range of modication Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the claimed invention; there being shown in the drawings for .illustrative purposes a preferred and practical form, in which:

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of 2 the ham press embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the container With a portion of the supporting base of the press shown in section* Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4 is a vievsT similar to Fig. 2taken in plane at right angles thereto;

Fig. 5 isa horizontal section taken on theV y line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Y

Fig. 6 vis a detailed perspective view showing another form of connecting the lid With the container; and

Y Fig. 7 is a perspective view taken from the bottom looking up of the lowerY end'member of the container.

In the embodiment illustrated the container 10 constituting the inventionis shown in Fig. 1 connected with a press for compressing ham-or other objects. This press,

as shown, is in the form ofa supporting Wall `plate 1 from the front face of which pro-jects a laterally extending shelf for sup-porting the container 10 and above which is mounted another shelf 3 through which operates the -tour 4of the container 10 in connection withA which it is to be used. .c

lwhich Will be hereinafter more fully *de` scribed, for holding the containerlagainst 1929. serial No. 344,856.

plungerrod4 .carrying the piston headgor plunger 5 at its lowerl end which latterl is shaped to Vconform to the cross sectional cong 4The container'supporting plate 2 is provided at itsfront edge with a cut outl or res cess 6 to receive a'cooperatingelement'fcar ried bythe bottom of the container, and

turning on the shelf.

The container 10 which is Vprovided for receiving the ham or other object to be pressed may be of any desired cross sectional contour and is here shown rectangular having a closed bottom 11. and an open top l2. The container may be of anydesired size, preferably of suflicientdiameter to receive the largest size ham Which it may be desired to cook or press therein and basa stud 13 depending from the bottom 11 near the front edge thereof designed to enter the recess 6 in the shelf 2 to hold the container 10 inline With the plunger 5 on the press and thereby enable the plunger to Work freely When compressing the contents of the container.l Y

The bottom plate 11 is removably mounted in the container and has'its upper face curved to provide side flanges 14. These flanges "14 taper toward their edges so that when the bottomll is applied they Will merge into the side Walls of the container as shown in Fig. 4 and.V avoid formation of shouldersl and corners such aswould be likely to interfere With the compressionlof the hamv andalso be objectionable in that they Would accumulate dirt thereon.`

This movable end plate V11 eliminates laborand time inthat itlfacilitates the removal of thefh'am from Vthe container.

' At the front outer corners of the bottom plate 11 are hook-like members 15 Which, when thebottom is applied, are designed `to engage the outer edges of the side Walls of vthe container. The outer faces of the hook- Y like members 15 are recessed as shown `at116 vtojreceive the flanges of the removable cover or'lid 17 which is provided along its side and 21 carried respectively by the-,lid V174 and the side wall of the container, the rods 19 being provided at one end with a knob;

19a which operates as a stop to prevent it slipping through the knuckles. Y

In Fig. 6 the lid 17a is, shown slidaloly mounted on laterally extending flanges 22 carriedy by the side walls 'of the container, the lid 17a having laterally extending flanges 23 provided with inturned lips 24: so that they will have a hook like engagement with the flanges 22 when slipped onto the container and operate to hold the lid securely in place. This sliding connection of the lid 17 a with the container simplifies the construction and dispenses with the rods 19 which are objectionable for the reason that they may become lost when the lid is removed. This sliding connection of the lid with the container eliminates two or three operations in the opening and closing of the lid and the interlocking engagement of the flanges 22 and 23 securely holds the lid against accidental release. Moreover this sliding lid avoids all hinges and crevices lsuch as collect dirt and its removability facilitates the cleaning of the apparatus. l

Handles 2li are mounted on the outer face of the lid 17 to facilitate manipulation of the lid and also for use in lifting the container.

The bottom plate 11 is designed to support the ham to be pressed and arranged 'above it is a cooperating presser plate or head 25 which is of a size to fit loosely inthe container and to slide freely therein. This presser head or plate 25 has upstanding flanges 26 which operate as guides for the head and prevent its turning in the container. A boss 27 is carried by the upper face of the head or plate 25 and is designed to extend into a compression spring 30 located between the upper face of the plate 25 and the lower face of a `cooperating spring compression .plate 35, the latter being designed to 'be engaged by the plunger 5 when pressure is to be exerted on the ham or other object to be pressed. The pressure plate is provided on its lower face with a circular boss 36 to enter the upper end of the compression spring The bosses 27 and 36, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, are each provided with a transversely extending sl'ot 28 and also with a peripheral slot 29 to provide for the receipt of the transversely arranged ends of the spring 30 which are designed to be inserted in the slot 28 and on the turning of the spring will pass in planes at right angles to slot 2S and therebyY securely connect the ends of the spring with t-he plates 25 .and 35, and the reverse turning will quickly release the spring to facilita e cleaning and replacement. The pressure plate 35 has in its opposed side edges on its lower face recesses 37 forming seat like elements to receive the pawls Ll1 on the. springs l0 mounted on the outer faces of the container on the diametrically opposite sides. Four ot these springs Zl() are provided, two ou each side of the container', as is shown clearly in Fig. 3, the teeth like studs or par-.ils Ll1 operating through slots 3S extending longitudi nally of the container side walls and which facilitate cleaning of the container since there are no places for refuse to collect in such as will be the case if apertures instead of slots were used.

The four springs 40 are arranged in pairs two on each side of the container and those of each pair are riveted at their lower ends to a plate 42 having a slot extending longitudinally thereof and designed to fit over a laterally projecting` casting a3 having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and which is designed to receive a pin 44 whereby the springs 'are detachably mounted on the container, a pull on pin Alil operating to rclease the plate l2 carrying the two springs to facilitate cleaning and repairs. These sprin el() are provided intermediate their ends with outwardly bulging portions e5 which operate to provide the spring like engagement of the teeth or dog 41 with the pressure plate lt will thus be seen that the pressure plate 35 when moved downwardly against the tension of the spring 30 will have the recesses 3T therein operate over the teeth al which have bevelled inner ends permitting the plate to pass freely downward over them and which spring out over the top of the plate and lock it against outward or upward movement as shown clearly in Fig. 4l.

The free upper ends of the flat springs 4l() are each pair connected by an outwardly bowed member 16 which in addition to causing the springs to act in unison may also be used as handles for disengaging the teeth 41 from the pressure plate 35 when desired.

On each side of the container is a safet i catch e7 made in the form of a metal strap pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the container between the springs ll() of each pair and which has its ends offset as shown clearly in F ig. 3 to adapt them to overlie the springs l0 when said springs are in normal locking position and thus securely hold the springs against outward movement thereby insuring the retention of the teeth 41 in the pressure plate recesses 37 so that there will be vno danger vof said plate being accidentally released. v

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' "lt will be seen that the flanges 26 of the plate are formed at the opposite ends only of the vplate so that there are no anges be tween the side walls of container in which.

the slots 38 are formed thereby permitting the teeth or pawls 41 to operate properly in connection with the pressure plate 35. It will l the bone or bones of such articles have first been removed.` After the ham hasV been placed in the container with the plate 25 above it the spring is engaged with the boss 27 in the manner above described and then the pressure plate is engaged with the upper end of spring 30 andv forced downward over the uppermost teeth 41 of spring mel bers l0 whereby this plate 35 will beheld in operative position. The 'container `is then placed in the press on the shelf 2 with the stud 13 engaged with the recess 6 in the shelf 2 whereby the container will be positioned to receive the plunger 5 of the press. This plunger is then forced downward into engagement with plate 35 and continuous pressure is exerted thereon until the desired coinpression of the ham is obtained. When this point has been reached the plate 35 will be engaged by the teeth 41 and thus locked against outward movement. After this has been accomplished the catch member or safety fastener l? is turned to cause the ends thereof to engage the springs 40 and lock them in operative position against accidental n. detachment or disengagement from the plate 35.

The plunger 5 is then withdrawn from the container and the container is removed and placed in a suitable cooking vessel or vat conn taining water and heat is applied in the usual manner. During the cooking of the ham the spring 30 operates to cause the plate 25 to press continuously on the ham and the ham is cooked in its own juices out of Contact l with the water and every part may be utilized.

After the ham has been cooked it may be removed from the container by opening or removing the lid 17 or 17a according to the ,n connection thereof with the container and by releasing the plate 35 from its engagement with the locking teeth 41 and lifting out plate 11 both ends ofthe ham will be exposed for engagement by the hands of the cook who can easily lift it out of the container without the exertion of force.

lVthout further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and it will, of course, be

understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or its scope as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A press comprisinga containerhaving removable closures at: bothends, a pressure head reciprocable in said container, means for extending through one side wall of the con-` tainer and engaging said head to hold it in adjusted position, and means for locking said holdin meansto prevent accidental release thereo Y 2. A press comprising a container, a pressure head movable in said container, a cast-v ing carried by the outer face of said container and having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and varranged transversely of the container, a pair of leaf springs, a plate connecting said` springs at one end and longitudinally slotted for passage over said casting, a pin for insertion through saidv casting to hold said plate removably engaged therewith, and teeth carried by the free ends of said springs and operable through said container to engage said pressure head.

`3. A press including two members movable toward and away from each other and equipped on their opposed faces with spring engaging bosses each of which has a transversely extending slot and a peripheral groove, a spring arranged between said members and having transversely arranged ends for insertion in said slots with the adj acentk portions in said grooves whereby the turning of the spring in one direction will securely connect the ends thereof with said members and the turning in the opposite direction will release it from said members. 

